§ 61-317. Oil and gas or mineral leases of state lands other than Capitol lands and parkways.

The Office of Management and Enterprise Services is hereby authorized and empowered to sell and execute oil and gas leases, and other mining leases, on any of the lands of this state under the control of said Office of Management and Enterprise Services.  Sale of Oklahoma State Capitol lands or parkways or the Executive Mansion lands shall be made upon a basis of a retained royalty of not less than one-eighth (1/8) of all the oil, gas, and other minerals produced therefrom, and such additional cash bonus as may be procured.  Such leases shall contain a provision that in the event of the discovery of natural gas, gas shall be furnished free of charge to any state institution located or hereafter located upon the lands covered by said lease, or leases.  Said leases shall be sold only after advertisement for a period of three (3) weeks in a legal newspaper published and of general circulation in the county in which said lands are located.  The sale shall be made to the highest and best bidder, and all bids for any tract shall be presented to the Office of Management and Enterprise Services in sealed envelopes, and shall all be opened and considered at the same time.  Said Office of Management and Enterprise Services shall have the right to reject any and all of said bids and again readvertise said lease, or leases, for sale.

The Office of Management and Enterprise Services is further authorized to make and promulgate such additional rules and regulations as he may deem necessary and for the best interest of the state in facilitating the sale of said leases.  The Director may contract with other state agencies to implement the provisions of this section and any expenses charged under such contract may be paid from the proceeds of the lease.

All monies derived from the sale of any and all of said leases, and from any royalties subsequently accruing, after deduction of the amount required to pay necessary and actual expenses of developing the lease, shall be paid into the State Treasury and credited to the General Revenue Fund of the state.

Added by Laws 1941, p. 440, § 1.  Amended by Laws 1943, p. 236, § 1; Laws 1983, c. 304, § 125, eff. July 1, 1983; Laws 1995, c. 342, § 8, emerg. eff. June 9, 1995; Laws 2012, c. 304, § 803.  Renumbered from § 107 of Title 74 by Laws 2013, c. 209, § 29, eff. July 1, 2013.